The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-17
POOR FATHER!
Unbounded Happiness Turned to
Deepest Sorrow.

L
Deepest Sorrow.
When Lieutenant Henry RObeline
Learned that his ship, Francis GARNER,
was to be sent to China, he thought OF
his wife and boy, and this thought sud
denly checked his joy to be put in the
way of gaining the epaulettes of Capt
ain. Even he experienced something
like remorse for having wished his ship
to be one of those selected for this far
away expedition, and, he asked him.
self, if these instantaneous disquietudes
were not what people call a PRESENT.
ment.
1t is this, for the last month his child
was unwell, and the doctor had recon-
mended constant care and attentive
treatment Marcel was born a little
delicate, sickly, one would say;it seemed
as if he had inherited the paludean
fever, of which his father has suffered
in Africa on the banks of those large
and treacherous rivers, where malaria
reigns supreme.
Madame Robeline expected the news;
she wanted to be courageous.
when do you leave?" she asked,
simply.
''In fortnight"
She felt her heart ready to ourst. He
took her on his knees, and with his
kisses he restrained her tears.
Papa" stammered the boy, twill
You take me with you?"
The sailor had his home outside of
Toulon, in this corner of the roadway,
gracious and picturesque as Neapoli-
tan bay. He hoped that, in the midst
of palm and orange trees, his young
one would improve; but the child, after
recovering little, became weak again
under the anxious eyes of his mother,
those woman,s eyes which refuse to
notice the painful traces of sickness on
the loved faces. although they sec them
growing deeper; equally prompt to
hope or despair, and whose tenderness
has tears for Joy as well as for sorrow
Three days before the Francis
GARNER left her moorings to make her
essays and regulate her compasses
Madame Robeline visited her husband S
ship, where he was going to live, and,
who knows, die, perhaps. wounded dur
ing a battle? She had some terrific
visions.
Ah!poor sailors wiveSi
She arranged his cabin, made a nest
of it, filled it with green plants which
would fade away once in open sea.
Her picture and the child'S smiled
above the narrow bed in frame made
with swords and revolvers, where for
the future exiled they would recall the
absent home to his mind. And while
she placed all those things, often alone,
her husband being on duty on the deck,
she cried. One evening, as she had
0elated herself, she wrapped Marcel in
a shawl but the gamin threw down the
garment again and again, clapped his
hands, laughed with the sailers, happy
with the breeze and swell. He caught
cold. The next day he could not rise
he coughed so much.
His father and mother slept no more.
The Francis Carriers departure was
fixed for the next Saturday. They
counted the hours. Soon the child
was at deaths door.
will you save him, doctor?" be-
sought they.
The doctor answered "yes," but that
did not satisfy them. Marcel was too
feeble to resist that dreadful cough.
And the parents returned to their
childs bed, murmuring some tender
words without hearing themselves
speak. They looked at their moaning
child and buried their nails in the
palms of their hands.
I'VE leave on Saturday."
Bertha altered great cry. Satur-
day night ought not to come for her.
Saturday!
But the angel may die that very
Saturday perhaps! Her boy to die-to
.diei
"Do not 60, Henry! For Gods sake,
do not gor'
He went out to solicit his transfer to
another ship that remained in Toulon.
On the threshold of his door h re-
Hectedi he commanded u man-o' war;
he had his mission and his orders. Not
to sail nOwwas to desert Then he re-
entered his home; his boy was saying:
Papa, will you bring me plenty of
Chinese toys?"
Nine. Robeline opened the window;
she pointed the ship to her husband.
"You must 60, Henry! am crazy.
lido not know what am saying. L"
The Francis GARNER cast off her
moorings; her captain was on the
bridge. When crossing the entrance
of the roadstead he turned around,
seaching beyond the blue gulf, under
the palm and orange trees, his white
cottage of Tamais, where he had left
his life. On the balcony silhouette
appeared, hand waved a handker-
chief. sent kiss, and the vision was
short one. Frcn the interior of the
room voice had called Mamma"
and the officer did not see the appa-
rition any more.